Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Marcos
Texas residential services run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your neighborhood's specific zoning map for your exact day.
State Mandate
Bag all trash to prevent pests.
Standard TDS Cart Bin (Trash)
Place carts 3 feet apart with the lid arrows pointing toward the street. Set out by 6:00 a.m. (mandatory from June 1 - Sept 30) and return them to your house or behind a fence by 9:00 p.m. on service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged and sealed dusty materials or pet waste
Cart with a Tan Lid Bin (Recycling)
Items must be loose in the cart (not bagged). The lid must close. Up to 3 small cardboard boxes of extra recycling may be placed next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Empty and rinsed plastic containers
- ✓Metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Liquids
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Place in the designated Green Waste cart or in up to 12 paper yard bags next to the cart. Never use plastic bags for compostable materials.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree and shrub limbs (under 5 inches diameter)
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Soiled paper (like pizza boxes and paper towels)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four times per year upon request.
Placement
Place items neatly by the curb (where carts are normally serviced) by 7:00 a.m. on the confirmed service day. Box or bag smaller items.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Carpet (cut into 4 ft. strips, limit 4 rolls)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (Freon removed)
- ✓ Bundled brush (under 4 feet, under 35 lbs per bundle)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Dirt and rocks
- ✕ Concrete
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Loose, unbundled brush
Each scheduled pickup is strictly limited to 3 cubic yards. Any volume exceeding this limit or unconfirmed items left at the curb will not be serviced.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Texas Disposal Systems only observes three major holidays. If your regular pickup day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will slide forward by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Bi-weekly green waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling.
For all other holidays (like Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Independence Day), TDS routes operate on their normal schedule without any delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose
Never put your recycling in plastic garbage bags. The plastic wraps around the sorting gears at the Texas Disposal Systems facility, causing dangerous jams. Toss all clean recyclables directly into your tan-lidded cart.
Pizza Boxes Belong in Green Waste
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, greasy pizza boxes contaminate the paper recycling stream. In San Marcos, you can place soiled paper and pizza boxes directly into your green waste cart to be composted instead.
Shredded Paper is a No-Go
Even though it is made of paper, shredded documents are too small to survive the automated sorting process and will end up contaminating glass and plastic streams. Dispose of shredded paper in your regular garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June - SeptemberDue to extreme summer temperatures, San Marcos enforces a strict summer service schedule. From June 1 through September 30, all garbage, recycling, and green waste carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. to accommodate early truck routes.
Winter
JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Texas Disposal Systems offers a free recycling program for unflocked Christmas trees. Ensure all lights, ornaments, and metal stands are completely removed before setting the tree out or taking it to a drop-off site.
Spring
February - AprilCentral Texas spring storms frequently cause localized tree damage. Residents can utilize their free annual bulk pickups for bundled limbs (under 4 feet and 35 lbs) or take up to five cubic yards of covered brush to the TDS Creedmoor site once a month.
About San Marcos Waste Management
Navigating San Marcos Curbside Services
The City of San Marcos partners with Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) to provide comprehensive residential waste management. This includes weekly garbage collection and bi-weekly single-stream recycling and green waste pickups. To beat the intense Texas heat and ensure worker safety, a mandatory summer schedule takes effect from June 1 through September 30, requiring all carts to be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Decoding the Tan-Lidded Recycling Carts
San Marcos utilizes a specific cart color system where your recycling cart is easily identified by its tan lid. Because TDS utilizes automated sorting systems, all recyclables must be placed loosely in this cart without being bagged. If you generate more recycling than your cart can hold, you don't have to wait for the next bi-weekly cycle—simply place the overflow materials in up to three small, easily manageable cardboard boxes next to your cart.
Maximizing the Green Waste Program
Keeping yard debris out of the local landfill is a major priority for the San Marcos Resource Recovery division. Residents are provided with a dedicated green waste cart for vegetative debris under five inches in diameter. During peak yard work seasons, you can place up to 12 approved brown paper yard bags next to your green waste cart on your designated bi-weekly service day, ensuring your property stays clean without incurring extra fees.
Four Free Annual Bulk Pickups
Unlike cities with standard monthly bulk days, San Marcos requires residents to proactively schedule their heavy trash removals. Every residential customer is entitled to four free bulk pickups per year, with a strict limit of three cubic yards per collection. You must call the Resource Recovery Office at least two business days prior to your normal garbage day to secure a slot, which will be scheduled during the first or third full week of the month.
Drop-off Facilities
Green Guy Recycling
937 Hwy 80, San Marcos, TX 78666
Materials Accepted
TDS Brush Site (Creedmoor)
3016 FM 1327, Creedmoor, TX 78610
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I have more recycling than my tan-lidded cart can hold?
If your recycling cart is full, you do not need to wait two weeks. You can place your extra recyclables in up to three small cardboard boxes and set them right next to your cart on your scheduled recycling day.
How do I schedule a bulk trash pickup in San Marcos?
You must call the Resource Recovery Office at 512-393-8412 at least two business days before your normal garbage day. You get four free pickups a year, maxed at 3 cubic yards per pickup.
Does my trash pickup time change during the summer?
Yes. To avoid the extreme heat, the City of San Marcos requires all residents to place their trash, recycling, and green waste carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. between June 1 and September 30.
Can I throw tree branches in my garbage cart?
Vegetative waste should not go in your regular trash. Small branches (under 5 inches in diameter) should go in your green waste cart or in up to 12 paper yard bags placed next to it. Larger branches must be bundled and scheduled for a bulk pickup.